O'Neill alludes to tunnel trouble

Thursday 12 January 2006 00:12 BST

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has revealed "a few words were exchanged" in the tunnel at Bramall Lane following a rousing 2-2 draw with Sheffield United.

The game ended in controversy when United captain Chris Morgan was blatantly elbowed in the face by Aston Villa striker Juan Pablo Angel following his late arrival as a substitute. At the final whistle it is believed an incident then took place between Morgan and Angel as the teams made their way to their respective dressing rooms.

When told as to what had caused the situation in the tunnel, O'Neill said: "So that is what that kerfuffle was about. There were a few words exchanged in the tunnel, but it was not too dissimilar to what happens in most tunnels at the end of a game."

He added: "There were a few people separating things, although there was nothing thrown as far as I could see.

"It shouldn't spoil what was a pretty exciting game, and I think we more than played our part."

O'Neill has admitted he will review the incident, and it is unclear at this stage whether referee Mark Halsey had a view.

If the official did not then there is every possibility the Football Association's video advisory panel may take up the case.

Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock believed Halsey did see it, according to what he has been told by Morgan.

"I thought it was disappointing that the official didn't see it, but Morgs has said he did," said Warnock. "We will have to see, but I don't think there was any need for it."

Warnock, though, played down the tunnel tiff, adding: "I'm not aware of anything. When I came down there were a lot of people, but that's about it. I think Morgan ran off because he would have got into trouble with Angel if he had had a chance."